Collective Self-Esteem As a Coping Resource for Male-to-Female Transsexuals

Overview

Journal J Couns Psychol

Publisher American Psychological Association

Specialties Health Services
Psychology

Date 2010 Jan 5

PMID 20046949

Citations 33

Authors

Francisco J Sanchez

Eric Vilain

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The fear of experiencing discrimination often provokes symptoms of psychological distress. One coping resource is positive identification with one's social group-known as collective self-esteem. This preliminary study investigated whether collective self-esteem was related to fears regarding a transsexual identity and psychological distress among 53 self-identified male-to-female transsexuals (mean age = 50.79). Participants were recruited from transgender events held in Arizona and California. The majority (81%) reported living full-time as women (mean length of time living as a woman = 6.33 years). Negative feelings about the transsexual community and fears regarding the impact of a transsexual identity were positively related to psychological distress. A regression model revealed that the fear of how a transsexual identity would affect one's life was the best predictor of the severity of psychological distress. These results are consistent with findings from other historically marginalized groups whereby the stress of being stigmatized by society adversely affects mental health.

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